{PRP} This is how to fly (Grizzik & Aspasia & Foals)

[Syrius Lionwing]

The day was bright and clear and with the sun beating upon his leathery wings the new father had decided it was a good idea to teach at least one of his children how to fly. He wasn't sure his lady mate would approve but with growing wings and growing bodies they would have to learn some time. He'd ultimately decided that the easiest of their three foals to teach would be the middle child.

Her wings were like his own, they would function the same and so he would be able to tach her as his mother had taught him. The bat like membranes after all were not like feathers. He knew he'd have to teach his other two daughters as well, but, well there was a problem with that. Their eldest child, her wings were longer, their membranes shaped differently and the claws that could grip. He had no idea how to teach her and their youngest, how would those strange feet handle the run, and feathers? Perhaps he would have to leave her education to Aspasia. All of these worries paled against the fact that he loved them so dearly and he wanted to see them all happy, healthy and flying.

All of this had culminated in the simple thought, to teach their middle child, the one who's wings were most like his own to fly. It seemed like a good idea.

The chocolate filly hoppped about happily following her father. He had told her they were on a secret mission and not to tell their mother. She had giggled and nodded and passed the message on to her tan sibling. Someone else had to know about the secret mission. She'd wanted to pass the word on to her minty sister too but she'd been asleep. Her youngest sister could be such a bore. Still she now followed after her daddy cheerfully, hopping and tripping and skipping her clawed feet pulling up grass tufts and clods of dirt. She liked to watch the ground move as she bounced about, it reacted to her claws and it made her giggle. She also enjoyed the amused look in her fathers eyes when she turned her already chocolate coloured coat to a muddy brown. Her daddy never shouted at them. His voice was so monotone but she loved to hear it and she knew how dearly he loved all three of them and their momma.

"What are we doing daddy?" She pipped up falling in with his foot steps working her way between his legs.

"We're learning to fly little one but for that, we need a big area to take off."

Magnadearel

 

[magnadearel]

Syrius Lionwing

The little filly was excited. Her chocolate brown sibling had whispered to her that their father was holding a secret mission, but shouldn't tell their mother. She knew where it was thanks to her sister telling her. However, the young foal was torn. Their mother had told them not to keep secrets, yet daddy was? As much as she wanted to join in in the secret mission, she waited until the pair headed off then went to her mother.

"Daddy is having a secret mission in the field just over the hill mama." Euphrosynê dutifully told her mother. "Don't be too mad at them please?!" She didn't want to get her sister in trouble for telling her.




Aspasia was eating some juicy clovers when her oldest daughter approached. She lifted her head as her pale tan offspring's words sank in. "A secret mission hm?" The minty mare smiled and gently nuzzled the green mane of Euphrosynê. "Not to fear daughter. But suppose we crash their mission hm?" Her eyes twinkled with mischief. She had an idea of what he was about based on the location. She couldn't blame him for favoring the one who took after him, but she wasn't going to let him get off that easy!

"Come along." The mare strolled confidently along as her foal scrambled behind her then finally caught up. "I say we are just going for a walk. It's such a nice day out." She winked at her faithful foal. They walked until they "happened" upon the field where Grizzik and her darker offspring were. "Such pretty flowers here today! OH! There's Grizzik and Erianthe. Why don't you run along and join them in whatever they're doing." She nudged the pale cream rump to encourage her forward, then stood at the side lines.

Aspasia would much rather have waited a bit long before teaching them to fly. She wasn't sure their wing muscles were even strong enough at this stage, but let Grizzik find out for himself. Plus he would have to be the one to corral them if they did get airborne.


It took a lot of effort to keep six limbs in order. She had to scramble to get herself sorted out before following her mother. Eventually she caught up. Her wings easily reached the ground and she frequently used them to help prop herself up. She rather felt sorry her siblings didn't have this advantage. Her youngest sister even had the tiniest wings among them!

Euphrosynê trotted out to join her father and sibling. "Hello! We went for a walk. I think mother is looking for flowers. What are we doing?" She looked around them wide eyed, but carefully not at her sister lest she give away who told her about it.
 

[Syrius Lionwing]

When the soft tan foal arrived grizzik smiled and shook his head. He looked up the field sheepishly. He should have known that he couldn't keep a secret from his lady. These girls, they loved to whisper to each other. He looked between the two fillys and chuckled, though he paused for a moment and waited, fully expecting their third daughter to come. When she didn't arrive though he frowned slightly and almost told the two that they were just here to pick flowers for their mother...but.. it seemed a shame to waste the opportunity. He had been their age when he had learned to fly, well mostly learned to glide, but it had been necessary for him, perhaps he was rushing them?

Shaking away his doubts he slowly lowers himself to the ground lifting his big claws he carefully manipulates his daughters wings so that they both stood with them out stretched. He supposed Aspasia knew they couldn't fly properly their first time out but he could teach them the basics.

"I'm going to teach you both how to fly." He smiles a little sparkle in those rust coloured eyes. "Its not easy your first time and Eup, you're going to have to keep your wings off the ground." He liked to call his daughters by shorter names, they were easier for him to pronounce, Aspasia had picked beautiful names for all three of their foals, but, they were all a mouthful.

He had a feeling the way his tan daughter moved around would actually be a benefit to her getting her young body off the ground, but would they catch the wind the same as his own? He wasn't sure. He knew how Erianthe's wings would work, they were exactly like his own, he knew exactly how the wind would take them. Nodding with this knowledge he decided to confess this to the children before him. They after all deserved the truth from him.

"Eup, I don't know if your wings will work. I'v never seen beautiful wings like yours before so I don't know how the wind will hit them so you have to be super careful okay?" He raised both brows, it was moments like this that he wished he could change the tone of his voice, he wished he could put some sort of serious tone in to his lilt, but he couldn't he just hoped they would understand. He looked up the hill to Aspasia, wondering if she was coming to join them before turning his attention to Erianthe. "Eri, you have my wings so I know exactly how the wind will pull you but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful okay?"

When their father started playing with their wings she was wondering what was going on. He was delicate though and when he had finished she could feel a strange pull at her wings.

Erianthe could hardly contain her excitement when her father said they were going to learn to fly. She squeed happily and nudged her older sister her wings falling back to their natural position in her euphoric delight. "Can we really fly? Can we? I'll be careful I promise!"

Grizzik chuckled and lifted his claws once again putting her wings in the correct position. "Well you will more glide this first time but you must keep your wings in this position for me okay? Both of you." He looked to the tan and green filly too and waited for an affirmative.

Magnadearel

 

[magnadearel]

Syrius Lionwing

Euphrosynê looked up rivetedly at her father. She looked quizzical when he started rearranging her and her sister's wings. It felt strange not to have the extra support of her wings supporting her front end. Her clawed feet took all the weight of her chest and wings and dug uncomfortably into the soft dirt. Eup held it for several moments before having to drop her wings back to the ground.

"They're heavy!" She complained to her father, hoping he could fix it. The young filly was surprised when her father said he didn't know about her wings. How could they not work? She glanced at them worriedly. Would she never fly like her parents and sisters? That was indeed a worry to her! At least he thought they were beautiful. The young filly nodded understanding that she'd have to be super careful.

She glanced at Eri. Never before had she been jealous of the wings like their father's. Now perhaps she was, just a tiny bit. Eup put on a brave face at her sister's excitement at flying. Right! She was going to fly with her sister and parents! When Grizzik pulled Eri's wings back out, she realized the positioning was important. She moved a bit away to give herself a bit more room as her wings were bigger. She lifted them off the ground and held them out. It was tough! Soon her wings were wavering erratically as unused muscles struggled to maintain the weight. It wasn't long before she had to drop them again. Although when she'd held them up before she got tired, she thought she'd felt something tickling the undersides of her wings.



Aspasia smirked to herself. She could see his sheepish look from here. Nothing needed to be said. The mare watched patiently from the sidelines. She had her doubts, but would never say anything to her foals. It was beyond her still where those strange mutations came from. They would have to deal with them, and love their foals as fully as they deserved.

Such as now. They would take tiny baby steps and see what each one was capable of. Who knew! They might be surprised! Aspasia paused to take a mouthful of grass. Not as sweet as the clover she'd been eating, but she wouldn't miss these first flights for the world. She flicked her wings comfortably to her back. As much as she might want to join them, Grizzik would handle this. She nodded approval has she heard him confess some ignorance about the oldest's wings.
 

[Syrius Lionwing]

Grizzik watched as their oldest daughter lifted and dropped her wings and lifted them again. It didn't escape him that her wings caught the breeze momentarily. He nodded approval, a capture of wind meant they could hold an up draft. Perhaps her wings were like his own after all, though they seemed heavy for the little foal to hold alight. Still he decided to plough ahead. Using the method his own mother had used on him he moved in close to the tan filly and loosely tied a thin rope around her neck. His own mother had done this with him and he had found it odd at the time, but it was the easiest way to keep a foal grounded.

Moving back to his other daughter he tied a rope around her neck too. "I'm going to tell you what my mother told me. You're about to be a kite." He chuckles holding the ends of both ropes in one claw he leads them further out in to the field his own wings spread out. He was feeling for the best up draft and he waited pateintly leading the two fillies about until he found the perfect spot.

With very few words the big male shifted his two daughters in to position, lining them up perfectly "Now hold your wings up." He moves his other claw carefully positioning their wings before letting loose a flap of his own massive wings blasting the two youngsters with an updraft that the natural wind enhanced.


Erianthe was so confused when her father started leading them around. She was also impressed by the dexterity of his claws. She had never thought about it before but her father could do a lot of things with his fore claws, she had even seen him crush things and yet he was so delicate. When he finally stopped she obediently allowed him to position her, to play with her wings that were so like his own.

Of course when his wings pushed the wind against hers for a moment she wanted to slam them shut to protect the fragile membranes but her father had said to keep them open as he had positioned them. Her eyes had shut tightly and it was a moment before she realised her claws were not on the ground. She wasnt very high up, if anything she could have stretched her claws and found the ground again but the flapping of her fathers wings was keeping her up without flapping, she was just suspended, her wings holding her up. "I'm flying! I'm flying!" She shouted her wings twitching in her excitement which caused her to drop unceremoniously back to the ground. She realised suddenly why her father had chosen this spot, the ground was soft, covered in thick grass and clover and there was a natural breeze. She blinked owlishly at her father. "Can I go again?"

magnadearel

 

[magnadearel]

Syrius Lionwing

Euphrosynê let her wings drop again. It was super hard for her to keep them up for any length of time, but the sensation she'd felt briefly made her consider. There was something there that she hadn't quite grasped yet. She was distracted as her father came up close and tied a string about her neck. Eup shook her head trying to get use to it as he tied her sister the same way, for clearly it was needed for whatever they were going to do.

"What's a kite daddy?" He was laughing in that mono-tone of his, but she wasn't sure she wanted to be a kite. With the rope being her lead, she had to follow him further out. Eup glanced briefly towards her mother who was watching. She wouldn't let daddy do this if it was bad right? The young foal glanced to the side at her sister who seemed very eager. They walked and walked, and Eup wasn't sure what daddy was waiting for. Her wings were too heavy to hold up the entire time. She watched as he held out his own wings. There was something there as she watched.

On command, Eup lifted her wings up again. She wouldn't be able to do this much longer. She was tired already! Just as she was about to drop her wings again, his wings moved and a huge gust rushed past her mane. Her wings billowed out as they caught the breeze. Soon she found herself at the end of her lead. Her larger wings catching more of the wind and taking her higher than her sibling. She squealed with delight. With her wings supporting her completely it wasn't nearly as hard!

Soon the draft died and she stumbled back into the ground. Eup shook her head clear. "Woah! That was fun!" Her larger wings caught a better draft than Eir's smaller ones, but required a stronger one to keep her in the air. In the end it about evened out.



Aspasia watched with interest. They'd never spoke of how they'd teach the foals to fly. Her mother had taught her differently. With a mother's instincts, she hoped the ropes wouldn't hurt them. The minty mare watched as he led them over the field to a certain spot. She could see the breeze coming by the ripple of the grass and wanted to instinctively spread her wings. She kept them firmly shut as she watched him enhance the gust at the foals. It worked! They were airborne! If only for a short while. She smiled to herself as they immediately wanted to go again.
 

[Syrius Lionwing]

Grizzik smiled at his girls and moved forwards to check them. He nuzzled the ropes around their necks checking where the rope touched their hair. "Lets ask your mother before we do it again." He turned his head and looked up at his mint coloured mate. He wasn't too concerned about the ropes, it was the way he had been taught to fly, he had spent a couple of hours learning and he remembered the pain in his extra limbs and in the friction around his neck. It was a different place, a different time and there was more urgency to learning to fly. Here they could take it slowly.

Erianthe looked up the hill and beamed at her mother "Mama, mama come and see us fly again!" She called excitement in her voice as she turned her attention to her slightly older sibling. "Eup we flew, did you see how high? We flew properly!" She giggles happily and nudges her sister. "You flew forever Eup." She clicks her beak and shoulder shifts against her sister.

"Mama can we go again pleaseee! Please please!"

Magnadearel

 

[magnadearel]

Syrius Lionwing

Sorry for the wait!

Euphrosynê flexed her wings at the memory. It was a good one. She couldn't wait until she could do that without the string! The filly glanced toward where their mother was standing. What did she think of it all? She was curious why daddy thought they needed to ask mother before going again. Eup wanted to giggle at Eri, since obviously their mother had been watching this whole time. But it was exciting and she should see close up! "Mama come watch us!"

"We did Eri!" She felt there was more to it, plus father had done most of the work. He'd used his wings to get them up, but then they hadn't stayed up for ever long. So there had to be more. Flying couldn't only be that. She smiled at her sister's exuberance and nuzzled her mane affectionately. She was happy she was here for this. "Yes may we please fly again?"



Aspasia ambled over as her foals called to her. "That was very good for your first try! I'm proud of you my girls." She'd intended to sit back so to speak and let Grizzik handle this, but it seemed it was to be a family affair. She moved to stand beside her mate. "Now comes your next step. I want you to practice. Spread your wings out like before and you want to move your wings up and down." The minty mare spread her own gold tipped feather wings. She moved them slowly through the motions of flying. "Just like this. Give it a practice. When your father gets you up off the ground again move your wings like that. Understand?"
 

[Syrius Lionwing]

magnadearel

Grizzik watched as his mate spoke. He nodded in agreement, but wondered if their wing muscles would be strong enough to maintain true flight. He still pondered about Euph's wings, she used them a lot for walking to perhaps the muscles were strong enough to keep her up for a long time. He wasnt sure if she would move them as he would either. The mechanics of flapping, he moved his wings differently than his feathered mate he had never thought about the way feathers worked really, his own wings like that of a bat or a dragon, membranous lacking in feathers, still they kept him up and he knew they would keep the foals up too, it was just, he was concerned about the eldest would she flap the same way? Trial and error, he decided. "As your mother says when you are up, flap, what you did just now, that was gliding, we used the wind to hold us up but to truely fly you have to move your wings. Practice with me before we go again.." The big male slowly opened his wings and moved them in a slow arc to demonstrate.

The chocolate foal watched her mother intently and giggled happily at her mothers praise. "Okay mummy!" She smiles clicking her beak like muzzle and stretching her wings wide. She was using muscles that she had never really used before and already she could feel the strain at her shoulders but she followed her parents instructions moving her wings up and down.